Air distribution assembly for vehicles

ABSTRACT

An air distribution assembly for vehicles, comprising a first flap, able to rotate around a first axis, a second distribution flap, able to rotate around a second axis, and a geared transmission device that connects the first and the second flap to each other. The transmission device comprises at least one gear wheel including a first and a second element able to rotate relative to each other and an elastic element positioned between the first and the second element to allow a relative rotation motion between the first and the second element.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit of European patent application number06425058.2, filed Feb. 3, 2006, which is herein incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Description of the Related Art

In air distribution assemblies for vehicles, the need often arises toprovide two air distribution flaps, rotatable around two distinct axesand provided with a different maximum angular travel. In particular,there is a need to obtain a solution in which one of the two flaps cancontinue to move even when the other flap has already reached an endstop position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an air distribution assembly forvehicles, comprising:

-   -   a first distribution flap, rotatable around a first axis,    -   a second distribution flap, rotatable around a second axis, and    -   a geared transmission device that connects the first and the        second flap to each other.

The object of the present invention is to provide an air distributionassembly for vehicles which allows to meet the aforesaid requirementwith a simple, reliable and resistant solution.

According to the present invention, said object is achieved by an airdistribution assembly having the characteristics set out in claim 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The characteristics and the advantages of present invention shall becomereadily apparent in the detailed description that follows, providedpurely by way of non limiting example, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an air distribution assemblyaccording to the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view in enlarged scale and partially sectionedof a part of the transmission device in FIG. 1, and

FIG. 3 is a section according to the line III-III of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIG. 1, the number 10 designates an air distributionassembly for vehicles comprising a first distribution flap 12 and asecond distribution flap 14. The distribution flaps 12, 14 are pivotallysupported by a housing (not shown) around the respective axes 16, 18. Inthe embodiment illustrated in the figures, the two axes of rotation 16,18 are parallel to each other.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the distribution flaps 12, 14are of the “butterfly” type, i.e. with the respective axes of rotation16, 18 contained in the general plane of the flaps 12, 14. Thedistribution flaps 12, 14 have respective shafts 20, 22 preferablyintegral with the bodies of the flaps 12, 14 and defining the axes ofrotation 16, 18.

The distribution assembly 10 comprises a geared transmission device 24which connects the first flap 12 and the second flap 14 to each other.The geared transmission assembly 24 comprises a first gear wheel 26fastened on the shaft 20 of the first flap 12, and a second gear wheel28 fastened on the shaft 22 of the second flap 14. In the example shownin the figures, the two gear wheels 26, 28 respectively mesh with athird and a fourth gear wheel 30, 32 with different number of teeth,integral with each other and rotatable around an axis 34, parallel tothe axes of rotation 16, 18 of the flaps 12, 14.

The gear wheels of the transmission device 24 can have teeth on theirentire periphery, as in the case of the gear wheels 28, 30, 32, or theycan have only a toothed sector, as in the case of the gear wheel 26.

The transmission device 24 is associated to a control device whichenables to set the angular position of the distribution flaps 12, 14. Inthe illustrated example, the control device comprises a Bowden cable 36having one end 38 anchored to a stake 40 of the first gear wheel 26.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the second gear wheel 28 comprises afirst element 42 and a second element 44, able to rotate relative toeach other with respect to the axis of rotation 18 of the seconddistribution flap 14. The first element 42 is provided on its outersurface with a set of teeth 46 whilst the second element 44 is providedwith a hub 48 whereto is coupled an end 50 of the shaft 22. Preferably,the hub 48 of the second element 44 is provided with an elasticallydeformable tooth 52 which is engaged in snap-in fashion in a seat 54formed on the end 50 of the shaft 22.

Between the two elements 42, 44 of the second gear wheel 28 is providedan elastic element 56. The elastic element has a first end which bearsagainst the first element 42 and a second end which bears against thesecond element 44. In the example shown in the figures, the elasticelement under compression 56 is formed by a helical spring housed in anannular seat concentric relative to the axis of rotation 18. A first endof the spring 56 bears on a projection 58 of the first element 42 and asecond end of the spring 56 bears on a projection 60 of the secondelement 44.

The elastic element tends to thrust the two elements 42, 44 towards aposition in which the two elements are in mutual abutment contact. Inoperation, the position of the first distribution flap 12 is set usingthe control device 36. The angular motion of the first gear wheel 26 istransmitted to the second gear wheel 28 through the two intermediatewheels 30, 32. When the second distribution flap 14 is in intermediateposition between the end stop positions, the rotational motion istransmitted from the first element 42 to the second element 44 of thesecond gear wheel 28 by means of the elastic element 56, without anyvariation in angular position between the first and second element 42,44.

When the second distribution flap 14 reaches an end stop position, thefirst distribution flap 12 can continue to rotate. This further rotationof the first distribution flap 12 produces a rotation of the firstelement 42 of the gear wheel 28, whilst the second element 44, integralwith the second distribution flap 14, remains motionless. The relativerotation motion between the elements 42, 44 of the second gear wheel 28produces a compression of the elastic element 56.

It will thus be readily apparent that the present invention enables torender the movements between the two distribution flaps 12, 14 mutuallyindependent since the first distribution flap 12 can perform additionalmovements even after the second distribution flap 14 has reached an endstop position.

The solution according to the present invention enables to obtaingreater reliability and resistency with respect to other possiblesolutions that allow to render the movements of the distribution flaps12, 14 mutually independent. The solution according to the invention iseasy to standardise and applicable to distribution assemblies ofdifferent kinds, and it can be used in all cases in which there is aneed to enable the actuation of some elements of the kinematic chainwhen others are already abutting.

1. An air distribution assembly for vehicles, comprising: a first flap,rotatably mounted around a first axis, a second distribution flap,rotatably mounted around a second axis, and a geared transmission devicethat connects the first and the second flap to each other, wherein thesaid transmission device comprises at least one gear wheel including afirst and a second element able to rotate relative to each other and anelastic element positioned between the first and the second element toallow a relative rotation motion between the first and the secondelement.
 2. Air distribution assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein thefirst element of the gear wheel is provided with a set of teeth and inthat the second element of the gear wheel is provided with a hub forfastening the gear wheel on a shaft of one of said flaps.
 3. Airdistribution assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elastic elementhas a first end abutting against a projection of the first element and asecond end abutting against a projection of the second element.
 4. Airdistribution assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the elastic elementis housed in an annular seat concentric with respect to the axis ofrotation of the gear wheel.
 5. Air distribution assembly as claimed inclaim 2, wherein the hub of the second element of the gear wheel isprovided with an elastically deformable tooth which engages in snap-onfashion a seat of an end of a shaft of the second flap.